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A User's Guide to Accessing Inholdings in a National Park Service Area in Alaska
Public Correspondence Log

In February, the Park Service released for public review a draft user's guide to help landowners and others understand the process to authorize access across park areas. More than 40 comment letters were received from individuals, corporations and governments; in addition, four public meetings were held with more than 60 people participating.

Based on a number of concerns expressed during an initial public comment period on a draft guide to access in national park units, the Alaska Region of the National Park Service has decided to revise the draft over the summer and release a second draft document later this year.

Since the end of the three month comment period (February 11th, 2005 to May 12th, 2005) we've had a number of public requests to review the correspondence .  The following is a log linking text only versions of the correspondence received during the above comment period:

 

 

 

Within Alaska's national park units, there are more than 1.6 million acres of land owned by private individuals and corporations, the state of Alaska and local governments. These owners and other valid occupants are entitled to adequate and feasible access to their property, but the process of obtaining legal access across public land has never been well described in a single document.

Titled "A User's Guide to Accessing Inholdings in a National Park Service Area in Alaska," the 22-page draft was an outcome of conversations held last year among U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Gale Norton, Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski, and NPS Alaska Regional Director Marcia Blaszak. The draft described how landowners and valid occupants can secure rights under Section 1110(b) of the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). This section addresses motorized access to inholdings, as well as access that would require improvements such as construction or maintenance of a road, power line, or landing strip, or similar undertakings on publicly owned park land.

Access by airplane, boat, snowmachine and various methods of non-motorized travel not requiring improvements generally does not require a permit. Comments covered a wide variety of concerns, and these will be considered when revising the document, said NPS Regional Director Marcia Blaszak. Among the areas to be considered for revision are: · Fees: Several comments objected to a proposed fee schedule. · Environmental Review: Several comments asserted that the National Environmental Policy Act does not apply to the section of the ANILCA addressed by the guide. The NPS will seek a formal opinion on the legal requirements from the Department of the Interior's Office of the Solicitor. · Existing Access Provisions: Some routes to private property within national parks existed prior to the establishment of national park units in 1980, and others have been established since 1980. The NPS will consider if there can be different approaches for documenting existing access routes and considering proposals for new route construction. The National Park Service will provide public notice when the revised draft is complete as well as announce a new round of public meetings. ## ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.

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Author:Andrew McCarthy
www.nps.gov/akso
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